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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of a first responder for workers' |
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compensation benefits for mental trauma injuries, including |
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post-traumatic stress disorder. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 504.019(b), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) It is presumed that post-traumatic [Post-traumatic] |
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stress disorder suffered by a first responder is a compensable |
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injury under this subtitle unless it is shown by a preponderance of |
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the evidence [only if it is based on a diagnosis] that: |
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(1) the disorder is caused by an event occurring |
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outside [in] the course and scope of the first responder's |
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employment; or [and] |
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(2) no [the preponderance of the evidence indicates
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that the] event that occurred in the course and scope of the first |
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responder's employment was a substantial contributing factor of the |
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disorder. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a claim for workers' compensation benefits based on a |
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compensable injury that occurs on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A claim based on a compensable injury that occurs before |
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that date is governed by the law as it existed on the date the |
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compensable injury occurred, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |